Wednesday 20 February, 2019

Por Jayson McNamara

Wednesday 20 February, 2019

Por James Grainger

Wednesday 20 February, 2019

Por James Grainger

Most of the 42 people hospitalised were suffering from the
effects of smoke inhalation but
at least five people were badly
burned , of
whom at least
one – a woman
aged 55 – died in
the hospital to
which she had
been urgently
transferred.
Many of the hospitalised came from upper
floors because the smoke
went up the lift shafts.

The origin of the blaze
was traced to a 5th-floor corridor but its causes are still
unknown. Several witnesses claim to have heard an
explosion.

The fire at the hotel only two
blocks down from the Obelisk
(Av. Corrientes 818) raged for
two hours from 4pm to almost
6pm before it could be brought
under control as four fire engines and numerous ambulances rushed to the scene while
police cordoned off the area.

The four-star hotel is reportedly especially popular
among Brazilian tourists here
on bargain shopping trips following last year’s devaluation. In the closing days of 2014
it was the scene of a scandal
when 37 of its rooms were
found to function as a VIP
brothel.